Washington onion shippers have accounted in recent years for over 20 percent of the nation’s onion loads, and this season should continue that trend. As a result, the Northwest onion shipping outlook, which also includes Oregon and Idaho, is strong for the upcoming season. Acreage planted is similar this season and volume is expected to be in line with recent years.
In other words a pretty normal season for yields and size profile is seen for Idaho-eastern Oregon onions.
Washington planted onion acreage in 2017 was about 24,000 acres, down from 25,000 acres in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Total Oregon planted onion acreage in 2017 was 19,900 acres, up from 19,100 acres the previous season.
Idaho planted acreage in 2017 was 8,100 in 2017, compared with 9,400 acres in 2016.
Together Washington, Oregon and Idaho onion acreage of about 52,000 accounted for about 36% of total U.S. onion acreage in 2017.
Of the total U.S. onion shipments, the USDA reported 4.3 million cwt. was for the fresh market and 878,951 tons for processing.
Central Produce Distributing Inc. of Payette, ID has just started harvesting onion and will be shipping product from storage through the end of March. Some other shippers will get underway throughout August and in early September.
The operation expects acreage to be similar to 2017, with a few more acres of reds and yellow onion acreage remaining the same. Yellow onions account for about 80 percent of the company’s crop,
New Mexico onion shipments are finishing up about the time the Northwest gets underway.
River Point Farms LLC, Hermiston of OR reports an ideal growing season thanks to the weather. Unlike a year ago, growers in the Treasure Valley had nice spring weather and were able to get their onion crop planted on normal schedules.
Storage onions will be shipped from September through May.
Early season onion quality is expected to be very good and the storage varieties store well all season.